Twitter blocked in Turkey after users accuse government of corruption

TWITTER: The site has been instrumental in organising protests [ALAMY]

They are being redirected to a statement by the country’s telecommunications website.

It says there is a court order to apply “protection measures” to the site.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to "rip out the roots" of the social media network. Allegations of corruption within his inner circle emerged on Twitter.

But the country’s president, Abdullah Gul, has come out against Erdogan.

He said it is unacceptable to impose complete bans on social media platforms after a court decision to block access to Twitter.

The telecommunications authority issued a statement accusing Twitter of violating "personal rights and the confidentiality of private lives" and said access would be restored only when Twitter removes "illegal content."

Turkey in the past blocked access to YouTube, but it is the first ban on Twitter, which is hugely popular in the country.

BLOCKED: Allegations of corruption in Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government emerged on the site [GETTY]

Links to the leaked recordings have been popping up on Turkish Twitter accounts, including one in which a voice resembling Erdogan instructs his son to dispose of large amounts of cash from a residence amid a police graft investigation.

Erdogan, who denies corruption, said the recording is part of plot to discredit the government ahead of the March 30 elections.